Automated vehicle parking payment system

ABSTRACT

There is provided an automated parking payment system adapted to receive a parking notification comprising vehicle identification information and vehicle location, to determine a parking zone of the vehicle based on the vehicle location, to determine a parking tariff based on the parking zone, and to pay the parking tariff in association with the vehicle. The parking notification is generated automatically without human interaction using a vehicle parking management device connected to the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to parking payment systems, andmore particularly to an automated vehicle parking payment system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parking fees and parking fines (penalties) charged to vehicles bytraffic control authorities are an important and widespread revenuestream for traffic authorities. Traditional parking payment systemsrequire users to manually pay the parking tariffs for parking vehicles.Manual parking systems are usually vulnerable to the forgetfulness andlaziness of vehicle owners in paying their parking tariffs, which causesloss of revenue to the traffic authorities and/or fines being issued tothe vehicle owners. The issuance of fines by the traffic authorizes alsorequire manual inspections by traffic officers which is a costlyoperation and subject to human error. This causes loss of revenue whichcould be generated from the fines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, there is provided anautomated vehicle parking payment system.

As a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a parking paymentsystem adapted to receive a parking notification comprising vehicleidentification information and vehicle location, to determine a parkingzone of the vehicle based on the vehicle location, to determine aparking tariff based on the parking zone, and to pay the parking tariffin association with the vehicle.

Preferably, the parking payment system comprises:

-   -   a communication unit adapted to be connected to a data network        for receiving the parking notification comprising the vehicle        location and vehicle identification information;    -   a parking zones database storing data enabling to map the        vehicle location to a corresponding parking zone;    -   a parking tariff database storing data enabling to map the        parking zone to a corresponding parking tariff;    -   a parking payment database;    -   a parking zone determination unit adapted to be connected to the        parking zones database and to the communication unit for        receiving the vehicle location and for determining the        corresponding parking zone of the vehicle based on the vehicle        location;    -   a parking tariff determination unit adapted to be connected to        the parking zone determination unit and to the parking tariff        database for determining the parking tariff based on the        determined parking zone; and    -   a parking payment unit adapted to be connected to the parking        tariff determination unit for paying the parking tariff and        storing payment related information in the payment database.

Preferably, the parking payment system further comprises a parkingticket generation unit connected to the parking payment unit and thecommunication unit for generating and transmitting an electronic parkingticket.

Preferably, the vehicle identification information comprises a SIM chipidentifier, wherein the parking ticket generating unit is adapted totransmit the electronic parking ticket to a SIM chip/module associatedwith the vehicle using the SIM chip identifier.

Preferably, the parking notification further comprises contactinformation, wherein the electronic parking ticket is transmitted usingthe contact information.

Preferably, the contact information comprises at least one of an emailaddress and a mobile device identifier.

Preferably, the system further comprises a contact information databasestoring contact information associated with the vehicle, wherein theparking ticket generation unit is connected to the contact informationdatabase for retrieving and using the contract information fortransmitting the electronic parking ticket.

Preferably, the parking zone determination unit, the parking tariffdetermination unit, the parking payment unit and parking ticketgeneration unit comprise at least one microprocessor.

Preferably, the units and databases are part of a parking paymentserver.

Preferably, the parking notification further comprises financialinformation for enabling the payment of the parking tariff.

Preferably, the system further comprises a financial database comprisingdata mapping the vehicle identification information to related financialinformation, wherein the parking payment unit is adapted to be connectedto the financial database for retrieving the financial information basedon the vehicle identification for enabling the payment of the parkingtariff.

Preferably, the communication unit comprises a satellite receiver andthe data network comprises a satellite network.

Preferably, the vehicle has a plate number and the vehicle informationcomprises the vehicle plate number.

Preferably, the vehicle location comprises GPS coordinates.

Preferably, the system further comprises:

-   -   a GPS benchmark device located at a benchmark point within the        parking zone, the benchmark point having a priori known        benchmark GPS location, the system being further adapted for        receiving a real time GPS location from the GPS benchmark device        at the time of determining the parking zone, for determining a        deviation value between the benchmark GPS location and the real        time GPS location, and for correcting the GPS location of the        vehicle based on the determined deviation value.

Preferably, the system is further adapted to validate and correct theparking zone and the parking tariff based on the corrected GPS locationof the vehicle.

Preferably, the system is adapted to communicate with a user associatedwith the vehicle for transmitting thereto an electronic parking paymentnotification.

Preferably, the parking notification is transmitted to the system usinga vehicle parking management device connected to the vehicle.

Preferably, the vehicle parking management device is an automated deviceadapted to operate without human interaction.

Preferably, the system is adapted to transmit the electronic parkingpayment notification to the vehicle parking management device forcommunication to the user using a user interface at said vehicle parkingmanagement device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle parking management device in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle parking management device in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a vehicle parking management device using a SIMmodule/chip in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a vehicle parking management method in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a vehicle parking management method in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a parking payment system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a parking ticket generation unit in connection with acontact information database and a communication unit as part of aparking payment system in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a parking payment unit in connection with a financialinformation database as part of a parking payment system in accordancewith a an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a parking payment method in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates further steps for generating and transmittingelectronic payment tickets as part of the parking payment method inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a parking payment control system in accordance withan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a fine notification unit in connection with acontact information database and a communication unit as part of parkingpayment control system in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a fine issuance unit in connection with a financialinformation database as part of a parking payment control system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a parking payment control method in accordance withan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates further steps of generating, transmitting and payinga fine as part of the parking payment control method in accordance withan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a GPS correction system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a GPS correction system in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a zone validation unit in connection with an objectlocation database, a GPS corrected coordinates DB and a geographicalzone DB as part of the GPS correction system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a GPS correction method in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates the further steps of validation of the geographicalzone as part of the GPS correction method in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a parking management system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a GPS benchmark device in connection with theparking management server as part of the parking management system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 23 A and B illustrate a parking management process in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 24 illustrates a vehicle adapted to use a vehicle parkingmanagement device in remote connection with a parking management serverin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle Parking Management Device

As a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle parkingmanagement device 10 adapted to be mounted at a vehicle, such as a car,a motorcycle, and the like. The device 10 is adapted to detect thestatus of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is in a parkingposition, determine the location of the vehicle and send a parkingnotification to a remote parking server whenever the vehicle isdetermined to be in a parking position. The device 10 is adapted tooperate automatically without human interaction in order to determinewhether the vehicle is in a parking position, determine the location ofthe vehicle at that specific parking position, and to send the parkingnotification to the remote parking server (not shown). The remoteparking server is normally managed by traffic control authorities or aprivate entity in contractual relationship with the traffic controlauthorities.

The parking notification sent by the device 10 would compriseinformation allowing for the identification of the vehicle and thelocation of the vehicle where it is parked. The information allowing forthe identification of the vehicle can be for example the plate number,but it can also be an identifier which would allow the remote parkingserver to identify the vehicle. In this latter case, the remote parkingserver can have stored data allowing for mapping identifiers to vehiclesand/or vehicles owners. The location information of the vehicle can bethe GPS coordinates of the vehicle for example if a GPS is used tolocate the vehicle. The location of the vehicle can also be determinedusing other tracking technologies, such as a triangulation techniqueusing a mobile network. In the latter case, a SIM module/Chip can beused as part of the device 10 to communicate with the mobile network forthe determination of the location of the vehicle at the time of parking.The parking notification is received by the remote parking server whichis subsequently used for parking management purposes, such as parkingpayment, payment monitoring, fine issuance and the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device10 comprises a vehicle tracking unit 12, a vehicle status detection unit14, an information storage unit 16, a vehicle parking management unit 18and a communication unit 20 (see FIG. 1).

The vehicle tracking unit 12 is adapted to determine the physicallocation of the vehicle and to send it to the vehicle parking managementunit 18. The vehicle tracking unit 12 is adapted to be connected to thevehicle parking management unit 18 for transmitting thereto the physicallocation of the vehicle. In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicletracking unit 12 comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) device 22for determining the GPS coordinates of the vehicle (see FIG. 2). Thevehicle tracking unit 12 can alternatively comprise any type ofsatellite-based Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including butnot limited to a GPS navigation system. In another embodiment of theinvention, the vehicle tracking unit 12 comprises a SIM chip module/Chip30 which communicates with a mobile network 52 for determining thelocation of the vehicle using mobile technologies such as thetriangulation technique (see FIG. 3). These mobile technologies aregenerally provided by the mobile network service provider. In thislatter case, the SIM module/Chip 30 has a SIM module/Chip uniqueidentifier which can be used as an identifier of the vehicle. The SIMmodule/Chip identifier can for example be a phone number or a MobileStation International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) identifier oran International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The remote parkingmanagement server 57 can comprise in this case a database storing datamapping SIM module/Chip identifiers to vehicle identifying informationsuch as vehicle plate numbers, vehicle owner identities, vehicleregistration numbers and the like. The vehicle identifying informationcan be any type of information used by the traffic authorities toidentify vehicles.

The vehicle status detection unit 14 is adapted to determine whether thevehicle is in a parking position. There are different techniques whichcan be used to determine such a parking position. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the vehicle status detection unit 14 comprises a movementdetector 24 for detecting when the vehicle is in a stationary position(see FIG. 2). Thee vehicle status detection unit 14 uses thisinformation to determine whether the vehicle is in a parking position.For example, the vehicle status detection unit 14 can be configured toconclude that the vehicle is in a parking position if the latter hasbeen detected to be in a stationary position for a certain period oftime exceeding a certain threshold (for example 1 minute). The movementdetector 24 can be an accelerator detector or a gyroscope for example.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle status detection unit 14is adapted to detect if the vehicle is powered off/on and to determinewhether the vehicle is in a parking position based on this information.If the vehicle is powered off, the vehicle is determined to be in aparking position. The vehicle status detection unit 14 can in this casebe electrically connected to the vehicle's alternator or another vehiclecomponent for determining if the vehicle is powered on or off.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle status detection unit 14is adapted to determine if the vehicle is in a parking position based onboth the movement/stationary status and the power status of the vehicle.If the vehicle is both in a stationary position and powered off, thevehicle is determined to be in a parking position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle status detection unit 14detects if the vehicle is in a new parking position by detectingsequences of the movement status of the vehicle. For example, if thevehicle is in a stationary position after being in a movement position,the vehicle is determined to be in a new parking position. The parkingposition and vehicle location are deemed to remain the same until thevehicle is in movement again. As soon as the vehicle is detected to bein a stationary position after being in movement, a new parking positionand vehicle location are determined.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle status detection unit 14is adapted to enable a user to manually indicate whenever the car is ina parking position. In this case, when the vehicle is parked, theconductor can indicate to the device 2 that the vehicle has been parked.The vehicle status detection unit 14 can for example comprise a userinterface such as a button to enable the user to make such anindication. The user indication of the parking status will be read bythe vehicle parking management unit 18 which would request the vehiclelocation from the vehicle tracking unit 17. The vehicle parkingmanagement unit 18 would then generate the parking notification messagecomprising the vehicle information and location and send it to thecommunication unit 20 for transmission to the remote parking managementserver 57 via the data network 50.

The vehicle status detection unit 14 is adapted to be connected to thevehicle parking management unit 18 to manage this information. Thevehicle parking management unit 18 receives the stationary status and/orpower status of the vehicle and reads the vehicle location from thevehicle tracking unit 14 when the vehicle is determined to be in aparking and/or new parking position. Preferably, in order to save energy(i.e. battery), the vehicle parking management unit 18 reads the newlocation of the vehicle only when the vehicle is determined to be in anew parking position (after being in movement). This is because thevehicle location would not be changed during the stationary period ofthe vehicle, and therefore it would be unnecessary (and from the powerconsumption perspective inefficient) to regularly determine the locationof the vehicle while the vehicle remains in the same parking position.

The vehicle parking management unit 18 is adapted to receive informationfrom the vehicle tracking unit 12 and the vehicle status detection unit18 regarding the stationary/movement/power status of the vehicle and thevehicle location respectively and prepares a parking notificationmessage comprising the location of the vehicle whenever the vehicle isdetermined to be in a parking position.

The parking notification message further comprises information allowingfor uniquely identifying the vehicle. For this purpose, the vehicleparking management unit 18 is connected to the information storage unit16 which stores an identifier of the vehicle. The information storageunit 16 can be any suitable data storage means such as a computerreadable memory 26 or an electronic circuit adapted to store data (seeFIG. 2). The vehicle identifier can be the vehicle plate number forexample, but it can also be any type of identifier allowing for uniquelyidentifying the vehicle and recognized by the remote parking managementserver 57.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the information storage unit16 also comprises financial information which is read by the vehicleparking management unit 18 and used to process any payment requiredbased on the application used. The parking notification messagecomprises in this case the financial information in addition to thevehicle location and the vehicle identifier. In an application of thepresent invention, the remote parking management server 57 is adapted toprocess payment of the parking tariff of the vehicle. In this case, thefinancial information is used to process such a payment. In anotherpossible application, the remote parking management unit is adapted todetermine whether the parking tariff of the vehicle has been paid and toissue a fine in case the payment tariff has not been paid. In this case,the financial information is used to pay for the fine issued by thetraffic authorities. In another embodiment of the present invention, thefinancial information is stored at the remote parking management server57 which is used to process any such payment of the parking tariffand/or the fine. In this case, no financial information is required tobe stored at the vehicle parking management device 2.

The vehicle parking management unit 18 is connected to a communicationunit 20 for transmitting the parking notification to the remote parkingmanagement server 57. The communication unit 20 is adapted to beconnected to the remote parking management server 57 via a wireless datanetwork 50. In an embodiment of the invention, the connection betweenthe vehicle parking management device 2 and the remote parkingmanagement server 57 is a satellite connection. In this case, thecommunication unit 20 comprises a satellite transmitter and/or receiverfor establishing the connection and communicating with the remoteparking management server 57.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connection between thevehicle parking management device 2 and the remote parking managementserver 57 is made via a mobile data network 52 (see FIG. 3). In thiscase, a SIM module/Chip 30 is used to establish such a connection. Inthis case, the vehicle identifier can be the SIM module/Chip identifier(such as a mobile phone number or a MSISDN). The SIM module/Chip 30 canalso be used in this case to store any financial information requiredfor processing payments by the remote parking management server 57. Theinformation storage unit 16 and the communication unit 20 can beintegrated in this case within the SIM module/Chip 30.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management unit18 comprises a microprocessor/microcontroller 28 for processing the datareceived from the vehicle tracking unit 12, the vehicle status detectionunit 14 and the information storage unit 16 (see FIG. 2). Themicrocontroller/microprocessor 28 processes the data, generates andsends the parking notification to the communication unit 20 fortransmission to the remote parking management server 57 via the datanetwork 50.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 comprises a user interface 15 for interacting with a user (such as theconductor of the vehicle). The user interface 15 may comprise data inputmeans and data output means for enabling a communication between theuser, the vehicle parking management unit 2 and the remote parkingmanagement server 57. The data input means can comprise a touch screenor a keyboard for example, and the data output means can comprise adisplay screen for example. Among others, the user interface is adaptedto receive and communicate to the user data from the remote parkingmanagement server 57 such as an electronic payment receipt of a parkingtariff, an electronic fine and the such.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the process conducted by the vehicle parkingmanagement device 2 from the functional perspective. The device 2 isadapted to determine if the vehicle is in a parking position 40, totrack the vehicle's location and 42 and to send a parking notificationto the remote parking management server 57 comprising the vehiclelocation and vehicle identification information while the vehicle is ina parking position. In an embodiment of the invention, the parkingnotification is sent a single time once the vehicle is determined to bein a parking position (after being in a movement position). This is inorder to avoid sending redundant parking notifications to the remoteparking management server 57 which would increase power consumption(e.g. battery consumption) and lead to the inefficient use of power.Once the vehicle moves away from the parking position, the remoteparking management unit 18 sends a parking end notification to theremote parking management server 57. According to an embodiment of theinvention, the vehicle is determined to be in a parking position if thevehicle is in a stationary position and/or if the vehicle is turned off46. According to an embodiment of the invention, tracking the vehicle'slocation 42 comprises obtaining the GPS location of the vehicle once thevehicle is in a parking position 48. According to an embodiment of theinvention, the vehicle identifier is a SIM module/Chip identifier or aplate number of the vehicle 52, and the transmission of the parkingnotification to the remote parking management secure server is madethrough a satellite connection and/or a mobile network.

In an embodiment of the invention, the information storage unit 16comprises contact information contact information for a user associatedwith the vehicle (e.g. vehicle owner). The contact information cancomprise for example an email address and/or a mobile device identifiersuch as a mobile phone number. This contact information can be accessedand used by the vehicle parking management unit 18 for communicatingwith the user for example for sending the electronic parking paymentticket and/or payment confirmation notification and/or an electronicfine.

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a vehiclecomprising a vehicle parking management device 2.

Vehicle Parking Payment System

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicleparking payment system 99 which is adapted to be used at the trafficcontrol authority level for managing payment of parking tariffs byvehicles. The parking payment system 99 receives a parking notificationcomprising the vehicle location and vehicle identification information150, determines a corresponding parking zone based on the vehiclelocation 152, determines a parking tariff based on the parking zone 154and pay the parking tariff 156 (see FIG. 9). In an embodiment of theinvention, the parking payment system 99 further generates an electronicparking ticket and/or payment confirmation notification 158 andtransmits the electronic parking ticket and/or payment confirmationnotification to the vehicle parking management device 10 (see FIG. 10).The parking notification can be generated and transmitted to the parkingmanagement system 99 using any suitable means. For example, the parkingnotification can be generated using a mobile application running on amobile device of a user associated with the vehicle, or alternativelyusing a text message, or alternatively using a device adapted toautomatically acquire the information comprised in the parkingnotification. In an embodiment of the invention, the parkingnotification is transmitted by the vehicle parking management device 2.At the vehicle parking management device 2, the electronic parkingticket and/or payment confirmation is communicated to the user using theuser interface 15. This can for example be displayed to a screen displayat the user interface 15 to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking payment system 99comprises a communication unit 100, a parking zone determination unit102, a parking zones database 104, a parking tariff determination unit106, a parking tariff database 108, a parking payment unit 110 and aparking payment database 112 (see FIG. 6).

The parking zone determination unit 102 is adapted to be connected tothe communication unit 100 for receiving the parking notification. Theparking zone determination unit 102 is further adapted to be connectedto the parking zones database 104 for querying the database 104 usingthe vehicle location. The parking zones database 104 stores dataenabling to map the vehicle location to a corresponding parking zoneamong the existing parking zones as defined by the traffic authorities.The parking zones database 104 can for example store a topographic mapdivided based on the existing parking zones with data enabling to plot ageographical location (i.e. the vehicle location) to a correspondinglocation within the topographic map and to a corresponding parking zone.In an embodiment of the invention, the topographic map is a GPStopographic map and the vehicle location is represented by GPScoordinates.

The parking zone determination unit 102 is adapted to be connected tothe parking tariff determination unit 106 for transmitting thereto thedetermined parking zone for purposes of determining by the parkingtariff determination unit 106 the corresponding parking tariff. For thisend, the parking tariff determination unit 106 is adapted to beconnected to a parking tariff database storing data enabling to map theparking zone to the corresponding parking tariff. The parking tariffdetermination unit 106 determines the corresponding parking tariff inassociation with the vehicle and sends the information to the parkingpayment unit 110.

The parking tariff determination unit 106 is adapted to be connected tothe parking payment unit 110 for transmitting thereto the parking tarifffor purposes of paying the required parking tariff. The parking paymentunit 110 is adapted to be connected to a parking payment database 112for storing information related to the payment of the tariff. Theparking payment database 112 stores the vehicle identificationinformation, the parking zone where the vehicle is parked and theparking tariff paid. The time period associated with the parking tariffcan be predetermined in advance, for example 1 hour, and renewedautomatically as long as the vehicle is still parked in the same parkingposition.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 is adapted to transmit parking notifications to the parking managementsystem 99 at a time frequency corresponding to this predetermined timeperiod, for example each one hour. In an alternative embodiment, theparking management system 99 is adapted to send update requests to thevehicle parking management device 2 for obtaining updates with respectto the parking position of the vehicle. The vehicle parking zonedetermination unit 102 can be adapted to send such parking updaterequests to the vehicle parking management device 2 which are processedby the vehicle parking management unit 18. The latter communicates withthe vehicle tracking unit 12 for determining whether the vehicle isremained in the same parking position and transmits back the informationto the parking management system 99.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 sends a parking notification end to the parking management system 99once the vehicle moves away from the parking position. In this case, theparking payment unit 110 can be adapted to renew automatically thepayment of the parking tariff at the end of the time period for anothertime slot as long as the parking end notification has not been receivedby the parking management system 99 as this would be interpreted as thevehicle remains in the same parking position. When a parking endnotification is received by the parking management system 99, theparking zone determination unit 102 processes the notification andtransmits the information parking payment unit 110. The parking zonedetermination unit 102 can be adapted to be connected directly to theparking payment unit 110 for communicating such information.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking notification sent by thevehicle parking management device 2 to the parking management system 99comprises financial information for processing the payment of theparking tariff. In this case, the parking payment unit 110 uses thefinancial information for conducting the payment of the parking tariff.In another embodiment of the invention, the parking management system 99comprises a financial information database 118 comprising data mappingthe vehicle identification information related to financial informationassociated with the vehicle. In this case, the parking payment unit 110is adapted to retrieve the financial information from the financialinformation database 118 based on the vehicle identification informationand using the retrieved financial information for paying the parkingtariff (see FIG. 8).

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management system 99further comprises a parking ticket generation unit 114 adapted to beconnected to parking payment unit 110 and/or the parking paymentdatabase 112 as well as to the communication unit 100 for generating anelectronic parking ticket and/or payment confirmation notification andtransmitting the electronic parking ticket and/or payment confirmationnotification to the vehicle parking management device 10 via the datanetwork 50 (see FIG. 7). At the vehicle parking management device 2, theelectronic parking ticket and/or payment confirmation is communicated tothe user using the user interface 15. This can for example be displayedto a screen display at the user interface 15 to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking notification sent by thevehicle parking management device 2 comprises contact information abouta user associated with the vehicle. In this case, the electronic parkingticket and/or payment confirmation notification can be sent to the userdirectly using the contact information using the data network 50. Thecontact information can comprise for example an email address and/or amobile device identifier such as a mobile phone number. In analternative embodiment of the invention, the parking management system99 further comprises a contact information database 116 adapted to beconnected to the parking ticket generation unit 114 storing contactinformation associated with the vehicle and/or user. The contactinformation can be mapped to the vehicle information. In this case, theparking ticket generation unit 114 is adapted to retrieve the contactinformation from the contact information database 116 and using thisinformation for sending the electronic paring ticket and/or parkingconfirmation notification to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the data network 50 is a mobilenetwork and the electronic parking ticket and/or payment confirmationnotification are transmitted to the vehicle parking management deviceand/or to the user using the mobile network. This can for example to aSIM module/chip 30 associated with the vehicle parking management device2 and/or to the mobile device of the user. In another embodiment of theinvention, the data network 50 is a satellite network.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management system is partof a parking management server 57 comprising at least onemicroprocessor. This server 57 is also referred to as a parking paymentserver according to this embodiment.

Parking Payment Control System

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a parkingpayment control system 199 for controlling the tariff payment ofvehicles. The parking payment control system 199 is preferably locatedat the traffic authority's level. The parking payment control 199 isadapted for receiving a parking notification comprising the vehiclelocation and vehicle identification information 250, determining acorresponding parking zone based on the vehicle location 252,determining if the parking tariff associated with the parking zone hasbeen paid for the vehicle 254, and for issuing a fine if the parkingtariff has not been paid 256 (see FIG. 14). In an embodiment of theinvention, the parking payment control system 199 is further adapted forgenerating an electronic fine and/or fine notification 258, transmittingthe electronic fine and/or notification to the vehicle or a userassociated with the vehicle 260, and for paying the fine using financialinformation associated with the vehicle 262 (see FIG. 15). The parkingnotification can be generated and transmitted to the parking managementsystem 99 using any suitable means such as a device adapted toautomatically acquire the information comprised in the parkingnotification and to send the parking notification to the parking paymentcontrol system 199. In an embodiment of the invention, the parkingnotification is transmitted by the vehicle parking management device 2.At the vehicle parking management device 2, the electronic fine and/orfine issuance notification message is communicated to the user using theuser interface 15. This can for example be displayed to a screen displayat the user interface 15 to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking payment control system199 comprises a communication unit 200, a parking zone determinationunit 102, a parking zones database 204, a parking tariff determinationunit 206, a parking tariff database 208, a parking payment monitoringunit 210 and a parking payment database 212 and a fine issuance unit 214(see FIG. 11).

The parking zone determination unit 202 is adapted to be connected tothe communication unit 200 for receiving the parking notification. Theparking zone determination unit 202 is further adapted to be connectedto the parking zones database 204 for querying the database 204 usingthe vehicle location. The parking zones database 204 stores dataenabling to map the vehicle location to a corresponding parking zoneamong the existing parking zones as defined by the traffic authorities.The parking zones database 204 can for example store a topographic mapdivided based on the existing parking zones with data enabling to plot ageographical location (i.e. the vehicle location) to a correspondinglocation within the topographic map and to a corresponding parking zone.In an embodiment of the invention, the topographic map is a GPStopographic map and the vehicle location is represented by GPScoordinates.

The parking zone determination unit 202 is adapted to be connected tothe parking tariff determination unit 206 for transmitting thereto thedetermined parking zone for purposes of determining by the parkingtariff determination unit 206 the corresponding parking tariff. For thisend, the parking tariff determination unit 206 is adapted to beconnected to a parking tariff database storing data enabling to map theparking zone to the corresponding parking tariff. The parking tariffdetermination unit 206 determines the corresponding parking tariff inassociation with the vehicle and sends the information to the parkingpayment monitoring unit 210.

The parking tariff determination unit 206 is adapted to be connected tothe parking payment monitoring unit 210 for transmitting thereto theparking tariff for purposes of determining if the required parkingtariff is paid. The parking monitoring payment unit 110 is adapted to beconnected to a parking payment database 212 storing information relatedto vehicle parking tariff payments. The parking payment database 212stores vehicle identification information, the time periods inassociation with which parking tariffs have been paid and thecorresponding parking zones where vehicles are parked.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 is adapted to transmit parking notifications to the parking paymentcontrol system 199 at a time frequency corresponding to thispredetermined time period, for example each one hour. In an alternativeembodiment, the parking payment control system 199 is adapted to sendupdate requests to the vehicle parking management device 2 for obtainingupdates with respect to the parking position of the vehicle. The vehicleparking zone determination unit 202 can be adapted to send such parkingupdate requests to the vehicle parking management device 2 which areprocessed by the vehicle parking management unit 18. The lattercommunicates with the vehicle tracking unit 12 for determining whetherthe vehicle is remained in the same parking position and transmits backthe information to the parking payment control system 199. The vehiclepayment monitoring unit 210 processes the parking notification receivedfor determining whether the parking tariff has been paid.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 sends a parking notification end to the parking management system 99once the vehicle moves away from the parking position. In this case, theparking payment unit 110 can be adapted to automatically issue a finefor non payment of the parking tariff at the end of the time period ifthe parking end notification has not been received at the parkingpayment control system 199 as this would be interpreted as the vehicleis still in the same parking position while the parking tariff paymenthas not been renewed. When a parking end notification is received by theparking management system 199, the parking zone determination unit 102processes the notification and transmits the information to the parkingpayment monitoring unit 210. The parking zone determination unit 202 canbe adapted to be connected directly to the parking payment monitoringunit 210 for communicating such information. The parking paymentmonitoring unit 210 instructs the fine issuance unit 214 for issuing afine in connection with the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking notification sent by thevehicle parking management device 2 to the parking payment controlsystem 199 comprises financial information for processing the payment ofthe issued fine. In this case, the fine issuance unit 214 uses thefinancial information for conducting the payment of the issued fine. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the parking payment control system199 comprises a financial information database 220 comprising datamapping the vehicle identification information related to financialinformation associated with the vehicle. In this case, the fine issuanceunit 214 is adapted to retrieve the financial information from thefinancial information database 220 based on the vehicle identificationinformation and using the retrieved financial information for paying theissued fine (see FIG. 13).

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking payment control system199 further comprises a fine notification unit 216 adapted to beconnected to fine issuance unit 214 as well as to the communication unit200 for generating an electronic fine and/or fine notification andtransmitting the electronic fine and/or fine notification to the vehicleparking management device 10 via the data network 50 (see FIG. 12). Atthe vehicle parking management device 2, the electronic fine and/or finenotification is communicated to the user using the user interface 15.This can for example be displayed to a screen display at the userinterface 15 to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking notification sent by thevehicle parking management device 2 comprises contact information abouta user associated with the vehicle. In this case, the electronic fineand/or fine notification can be sent to the user directly using thecontact information using the data network 50. The contact informationcan comprise for example an email address and/or a mobile deviceidentifier such as a mobile phone number. In an alternative embodimentof the invention, the parking payment control system 199 furthercomprises a contact information database 218 adapted to be connected tothe fine notification unit 216 storing contact information associatedwith the vehicle and/or user. The contact information can be mapped tothe vehicle information. In this case, the fine notification unit 114 isadapted to retrieve the contact information from the contact informationdatabase 218 and using this information for sending the electronic fineand/or fine notification to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the data network 50 is a mobilenetwork and the electronic fine and/or fine notification are transmittedto the vehicle parking management device and/or to the user using themobile network. This can for example to a SIM module/chip 30 associatedwith the vehicle parking management device 2 and/or to the mobile deviceof the user. In another embodiment of the invention, the data network 50is a satellite network.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management system is partof a parking management server 57 comprising at least onemicroprocessor. This server 57 is also referred to as a parking paymentcontrol server according to this embodiment.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Correction

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a GPS correctionsystem 299 for correcting GPS coordinates in general, and particularlythose obtained by vehicle parking management devices 2. In fact, thedetermination of parking zones of parking vehicles requires a gooddegree of accuracy in the location of vehicles obtained. If the vehiclelocation information used for the determination of a correspondingparking zone is not sufficiently accurate, the corresponding parkingzone determined may be wrong. As GPS coordinates obtained by GPS devicescan have a certain error zone (up to 10 meters), the probability ofinaccurately determining parking zones corresponding to vehicleslocation become high for vehicles parked at the borders of adjacentparking zones. For example, if the vehicle is parked in parking zone Awithin a couple of meters proximity of parking zone B, if the GPScoordinates obtained for the vehicle location are not sufficientlyaccurate, this may lead to the determination of zone B as acorresponding parking zone of the vehicle. This would lead to parkingmanagement issues such as the wrong determination of the parking tariff(in this example, parking tariff of parking zone B instead of parkingzone A).

The GPS correction system 299 is adapted to correct GPS coordinatesobtained in association with moving or stationary objects, such asvehicles, for increasing the accuracy of these coordinates. In anembodiment of the invention, these GPS coordinates are obtained usingthe vehicle parking management devices 2 in association with parkingvehicles, and the corrected GPS coordinates are used for thedetermination of parking zones by the parking zone determination units102 and 202 associated to the parking payment system 99 and the parkingpayment control system 199 respectively. The GPS correction system 299comprises benchmark GPS devices 300 distributed respectively at a prioriknown stationary benchmark points within corresponding geographicalzones.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the GPS correction system 299 furthercomprises a GPS deviation determination unit 329, a benchmark database332 and a GPS coordinates deviation database 333. The benchmark GPSdevices 300 are adapted to be connected to the GPS deviationdetermination unit 329 via a data network 50, such as a satellite datanetwork or a mobile data network. In this last case a SIM module/Chip isconnected to each one of the benchmark GPS devices for obtaining andtransmitting the GPS coordinates read by these benchmark GPS devices 300to the GPS deviation determination unit 329. The GPS deviationdetermination unit 329, the benchmark database 332 and the GPScoordinates deviation database 333 can be part of a same server oralternatively separate servers (referred to as the GPS correctionserver).

The stationary benchmark points can be benchmark stands on which thebenchmark GPS devices are mounted. As these benchmark stands have apriori known locations, the exact (error-free) GPS coordinates of thesebenchmark stands are known a priori and stored in the benchmark database332. The benchmark GPS devices 300 are read when needed according to theapplication (e.g. in real time) for obtaining the GPS coordinates ofthese benchmark points as read by these benchmark GPS devices 300 andare transmitted to the GPS deviation determination unit 329 where theyare compared to the a prior known locations of these benchmark pointsusing the benchmark GPS coordinates known a priori and stored in thebenchmark database 332.

This comparison operation conducted by the GPS deviation determinationunit 329 allows for determining the GPS coordinates deviation betweenthe benchmark GPS coordinates and the GPS coordinates read by thebenchmark GPS devices 300. These GPS coordinates deviations can bedetermined as frequently as desired based on the application (forexample in real time, every 1 hour, etc). These GPS coordinatesdeviations would reflect the positioning inaccuracies (errors) in theGPS positioning conducted by the benchmark GPS devices 300. The GPScoordinates deviations determined by the GPS deviation determinationunit 329 are stored in the GPS coordinates deviation database 333.

As each one of these benchmark GPS devices 300 is located within acorresponding geographical zone among the geographical zones, acorresponding GPS deviation measurement is mapped to each one of thesegeographical zones. These GPS deviation measurements corresponding tothe different geographical zones would be up to a certain degreerepresentative of the GPS positioning errors expected to occur usingother GPS devices (such as the GPS devices 22 used by the vehiclemanagement parking devices 2) within these geographical zonesrespectively. The GPS coordinates deviation database 333 stores datamapping the GPS coordinates deviations to the respective geographicalzones.

The GPS coordinates deviation can be determined by measuring thedeviation in the latitude coordinates and the deviation in the longitudecoordinates. The GPS coordinates deviation can have two components, afirst component corresponding to the deviation in latitude and thesecond component corresponding to the deviation in longitude. The GPScoordinates deviation can also correspond to a single component zonedeviation determined by a mathematical calculation, for example bycalculating the mean square error (deviation) between the benchmark GPScoordinates and the ones read by the benchmark GPS devices.

In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of benchmark GPS devices300 are distributed respectively at a plurality of benchmark pointswithin a same geographical zone. In this case, each geographical zoneamong the geographical zones would comprise a plurality of benchmarkpoints and respective benchmark GPS devices 300. For each one of thegeographical zones, the corresponding benchmark points would have apriori known benchmark GPS coordinates. The GPS coordinates for each oneof these benchmark GPS devices are read in course of operation andcompared with their respective benchmark GPS coordinates. In thisoptics, for each one of the geographical zones, a number of GPScoordinates deviation values are determined which respectivelycorrespond to the plurality of the benchmark points. These differentmeasured deviation values corresponding to a same geographical zone canbe used for determining an estimated GPS coordinates deviation for thecorresponding geographical zone. In an embodiment of the invention, foreach geographical zone among the geographical zones, a correspondingRoot Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) is determined using these various GPScoordinates deviation values. The higher the number of these benchmarkpoints within a same geographical zone is, the more accurate the RMSDwould be.

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 furthercomprises a zone determination unit 322, a geographical zone database324, a GPS correction unit 330 and a GPS corrected coordinates database334 (see FIG. 17). The zone determination unit 322 receives GPScoordinates and identification information associated to objects withinthe geographical zones from corresponding objects GPS devices 310. Thezone determination unit 322 determines the geographical zonescorresponding to these objects by inquiring the geographical zonesdatabase 324 using the objects GPS coordinates. The geographical zonesdatabase 324 stores data enabling to map an object location using itsGPS coordinates to a corresponding geographical zone among thegeographical zones.

The zone determination unit 322 is adapted to be connected to the GPScorrection unit 330 for transmitting thereto the geographical zonedetermined in association with the object along with the object GPScoordinates received. The GPS correction unit 330 is adapted to beconnected to the GPS coordinates deviation database 333 for retrievingthe GPS coordinates deviation associated with the geographical zonedetermined by the zone determination unit 322 and for determiningcorrected GPS coordinates of the object as a function of the received(uncorrected) object GPS coordinates and the GPS coordinate deviation.The GPS correction unit 330 is adapted to be connected to the GPScorrected coordinates database 334 for storing the corrected GPScoordinates in association with the object using the objectidentification information.

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 furthercomprises an object location database 326 adapted to be connected to thezone determination unit 322, the latter storing the geographical zonedetermined by thereby in association with the object inside the objectlocation database 326 (see FIG. 18).

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 furthercomprises a zone validation unit 340 adapted to be connected to the GPScorrected coordinates database 334, the geographical zone database 324and the object location database 326. The zone validation unit 340 isadapted to retrieve the corrected GPS coordinates of the object from theGPS corrected coordinates database 334 and for inquiring thegeographical zone database 324 using the corrected GPS coordinates forvalidating the geographical zone of the object based on the correctedGPS coordinates, and if required for determining a correctedgeographical zone corresponding to the object and for updating theobject location database 326 by substituting the geographical zonestored in association with the object by the corrected geographical zone(see FIG. 18).

The GPS corrected coordinates database 334 and the object locationdatabase 326 are adapted to be accessible via a data network forpurposes of use in a wide range of applications. In fact, there is awide range of applications which require the geographical zonedetermination of moving or stationary objects as well as thedetermination of corrected GPS coordinates for these objects.

In an embodiment of the invention, the geographical zones correspond toparking zones defined by the traffic authorities. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the object is a vehicle, the geographical zone database324 is a parking zone database and the object location database 326 is avehicle location database.

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 isadapted to be connected to the vehicle parking management device 2,wherein the object GPS coordinates and the object identificationinformation are respectively the vehicle location and vehicleidentification information received at the zone determination unit 322as part of the parking notification transmitted by the vehicle parkingmanagement device 2.

In an embodiment of the invention, the object location database 326 andthe GPS corrected coordinates database 334 are adapted to be connectedto the parking payment system 99 for providing corrected GPS coordinatesand corrected parking zones in association with the vehicles.

In an embodiment of the invention, the object location database 326 andthe GPS corrected coordinates database 334 are adapted to be connectedto the parking payment control system 199 for providing corrected GPScoordinates and corrected parking zones in association with thevehicles.

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 is partof the parking payment system 99, wherein the zone determination unit322 is the parking zone determination unit 102 and the geographical zonedatabase 324 is the parking zone database 104.

In an embodiment of the invention, the GPS correction system 299 is partof the parking payment control system 199, wherein the zonedetermination unit 322 is the parking zone determination unit 202 andthe geographical zone database 324 is the parking zone database 204.

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a process forcorrecting GPS coordinates received in association with a stationary ormoving object, the process comprises providing benchmark GPS devices ata priori known stationary benchmark points with respective geographicalzones 350, proving a benchmark database storing the benchmark GPScoordinates 352, receiving first GPS coordinates associated to theobject within a geographical zone and second GPS coordinates associatedto the stationary benchmark point of the same geographical zone 354,measuring a GPS coordinates deviation between the benchmark GPScoordinates and the second GPS coordinates 356, and generating correctedGPS coordinates of the object based on GPS coordinates deviation (seeFIG. 19).

In an embodiment of the invention, the process further comprisesvalidating the geographical zone of the object using the GPS correctedcoordinates 360, and if required determining a corrected geographicalzone of the object 362 (see FIG. 20).

Parking Management System

As an aspect of the invention, referring to FIG. 21, there is provided aparking management system 399 comprising a vehicle parking managementdevice 2 adapted to be mounted at a vehicle 1 having a vehicleidentifier for detecting a parking position of the vehicle, determiningthe location of the vehicle, and generating and transmitting via awireless data network 50 a parking notification comprising the vehiclelocation and the vehicle identifier when the vehicle is in a parkingposition; and a parking management server 57 adapted to be connected tothe vehicle parking management device 2 via the wireless data network 50for receiving the parking notification, determining a parking zone ofthe vehicle 1 based on the vehicle location, determining a parkingtariff based on the parking zone, and for paying the parking tariff orissuing a fine in association with the vehicle 1 if the parking tariffis determined not to be paid.

In an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 22, thevehicle location is a GPS location, and the system further comprises aGPS benchmark device 300 located at a benchmark point within the parkingzone, the benchmark point having a priori known benchmark GPS locationstored at the parking management server 57, the parking managementserver 57 being further adapted for receiving a real time GPS locationfrom the GPS benchmark device 300 at the time of determining the parkingzone, for determining a deviation value between the benchmark GPSlocation and the real time GPS location, and for correcting the GPSlocation of the vehicle based on the determined deviation value. Thereal time GPS location can also mean at a time sufficiently close to thetime of determining the parking zone (for example within a 1 hourperiod).

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management server 57 isfurther adapted to validate and correct the parking zone and the parkingtariff based on the corrected GPS location of the vehicle 1. This isdone by re-determining the geographical zone based on the corrected GPSlocation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management server 57 isadapted to communicate with a user associated with the vehicle fortransmitting an electronic parking payment notification or an electronicfine notification.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 is an automated device adapted to operate without human interaction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 is adapted to receive the electronic parking payment notification orthe electronic fine notification and communicating thereof to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management server 57 isadapted to be connected to a traffic authority server 5 comprising aparking zone database 204, a parking tariff database 208, a parkingpayment database 212 for the determination of the parking zone, theparking tariff and the parking payment status, and for the storage ofdata with respect to the parking payment made or fine issued.

In an embodiment of the invention, the traffic authority server 5further comprises a financial information database 220 storing financialinformation in association with the vehicle 1 for use for the purpose ofpaying the parking tariff or paying the fine.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 stores financial information in association with the vehicle 1 and theparking notification further comprises said financial information, theparking management server 57 further adapted to use the financialinformation for the purpose of paying the parking tariff or paying thefine.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 stores contact information allowing for communicating with the userand the parking notification comprises the contact information, theparking management server 57 being further adapted to send theelectronic payment notification or the electronic fine notification tothe user using said contact information.

In an embodiment of the invention, the contact information comprises amobile device identifier associated with the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 comprises a SIM module/chip 30 having a SIM module/chip identifierused as the vehicle identifier, the parking notification being sent tothe parking management server 57 using the SIM module/chip 30.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 detects the parking position by detecting at least one of a stationaryposition and a power off status of the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the stationary position is detectedusing at least one of an accelerator detector and gyroscope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management device2 further comprises a user interface 15 for communicating with the user,the user interface 15 comprising a screen for displaying the electronicpayment notification or electronic fine to the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle parking management devicefurther comprises an information storage unit 16, such as a memory 26,for storing data records of electronic parking payment notifications andelectronic fines received from the parking management server 57, theinformation storage unit 16 being readable by the device 2 fordisplaying said records to the user using the screen.

In an embodiment of the invention, the user interface 15 is adapted toenable the user to manually affect the payment of the parking tariff orthe fine by specifying the financial information or approving the use ofthe financial information stored in the device 2 for the purpose of thepayment.

In an embodiment of the invention, the user interface 15 is adapted toenable the user to post a complaint in association with a fine issued,the vehicle parking management device 2 being adapted to transmit thecomplaint to the server 57, and the server 57 being adapted to transmitthe complaint to the traffic authority server.

The server 57 and traffic authority server 59 can be the same server orseparate servers. In an embodiment of the invention, the parkingmanagement server 57 comprises at least one of the parking paymentsystem 199 and the parking payment control system 299 or any partthereof.

As a further aspect of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 A andB, there is provided a parking management process for detecting aparking position of the vehicle, determining the location of thevehicle, and generating and transmitting via a wireless data network 50a parking notification comprising the vehicle location and the vehicleidentifier when the vehicle is in a parking position; and a parkingmanagement server 57 adapted to be connected to the vehicle parkingmanagement device 2 via the wireless data network 50 for receiving theparking notification, determining a parking zone of the vehicle 1 basedon the vehicle location, determining a parking tariff based on theparking zone, and for paying the parking tariff or issuing a fine inassociation with the vehicle 1 if the parking tariff is determined notto be paid. The process uses a GPS benchmark device 300 located at abenchmark point within the parking zone, the benchmark point having apriori known benchmark GPS location stored at the parking managementserver 57, the parking management server 57 being further adapted forreceiving a real time GPS location from the GPS benchmark device 300 atthe time of determining the parking zone, for determining a deviationvalue between the benchmark GPS location and the real time GPS location,and for correcting the GPS location of the vehicle based on thedetermined deviation value. The example illustrated in FIGS. 23 A and Buses the vehicle plate number as the vehicle identifier, the Roads andTransport Authority (RTA) local stand as benchmark point, Etisalat asthe network service provider, and the RTA remote central system as theparking management server 57 and the traffic authority server 59.

Vehicle Equipment with an Automated Parking Management Device

As a further aspect of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 24, thereis provided a vehicle comprising a vehicle parking management device 2adapted to be mounted at a vehicle having a vehicle identifier fordetecting a parking position of the vehicle, determining the location ofthe vehicle, and generating and transmitting to a remote parkingmanagement server 57 via a wireless data network 50 a parkingnotification comprising the vehicle location and the vehicle identifierwhen the vehicle is in a parking position for purpose of paying aparking tariff or controlling the payment of the parking tariff by thetraffic authorities.

In an embodiment of the invention, the parking management server 57comprises at least one of the parking payment system 99, the parkingpayment control system 199, the GPS correction system 299, and theparking management system 399 and/or any part thereof.

Although the above description of the present invention has disclosedthe features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiment;additions, omissions and modifications applied to the details of theembodiment illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the essential characteristic of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as herein described.

1. A parking payment system adapted to receive a parking notificationcomprising vehicle identification information and vehicle location, todetermine a parking zone of the vehicle based on the vehicle location,to determine a parking tariff based on the parking zone, and to pay theparking tariff in association with the vehicle.
 2. The parking paymentsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises: acommunication unit adapted to be connected to a data network forreceiving the parking notification comprising the vehicle location andvehicle identification information; a parking zones database storingdata enabling to map the vehicle location to a corresponding parkingzone; a parking tariff database storing data enabling to map the parkingzone to a corresponding parking tariff; a parking payment database; aparking zone determination unit adapted to be connected to the parkingzones database and to the communication unit for receiving the vehiclelocation and for determining the corresponding parking zone of thevehicle based on the vehicle location; a parking tariff determinationunit adapted to be connected to the parking zone determination unit andto the parking tariff database for determining the parking tariff basedon the determined parking zone; and a parking payment unit adapted to beconnected to the parking tariff determination unit for paying theparking tariff and storing payment related information in the paymentdatabase.
 3. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 2 furthercomprising a parking ticket generation unit connected to the parkingpayment unit and the communication unit for generating and transmittingan electronic parking ticket.
 4. The parking payment system as claimedin claim 3 wherein the vehicle identification information comprises aSIM chip identifier, wherein the parking ticket generating unit isadapted to transmit the electronic parking ticket to a SIM chip/moduleassociated with the vehicle using the SIM chip identifier.
 5. Theparking payment system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the parkingnotification further comprises contact information, wherein theelectronic parking ticket is transmitted using the contact information.6. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the contactinformation comprises at least one of an email address and a mobiledevice identifier.
 7. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 3further comprising a contact information database storing contactinformation associated with the vehicle, wherein the parking ticketgeneration unit is connected to the contact information database forretrieving and using the contract information for transmitting theelectronic parking ticket.
 8. The parking payment system as claimed inclaim 3 wherein the parking zone determination unit, the parking tariffdetermination unit, the parking payment unit and parking ticketgeneration unit comprise at least one microprocessor.
 9. The parkingpayment system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the units and databases arepart of a parking payment server.
 10. The parking payment system asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the parking notification further comprisesfinancial information for enabling the payment of the parking tariff.11. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 2 further comprisinga financial database comprising data mapping the vehicle identificationinformation to related financial information, wherein the parkingpayment unit is adapted to be connected to the financial database forretrieving the financial information based on the vehicle identificationfor enabling the payment of the parking tariff.
 12. The parking paymentsystem as claimed in claim 2 wherein the communication unit comprises asatellite receiver and the data network comprises a satellite network.13. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehiclehas a plate number and the vehicle information comprises the vehicleplate number.
 14. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 1wherein the vehicle location comprises GPS coordinates.
 15. The parkingpayment system as claimed in claim 14, the system further comprising: aGPS benchmark device located at a benchmark point within the parkingzone, the benchmark point having a priori known benchmark GPS location,the system being further adapted for receiving a real time GPS locationfrom the GPS benchmark device at the time of determining the parkingzone, for determining a deviation value between the benchmark GPSlocation and the real time GPS location, and for correcting the GPSlocation of the vehicle based on the determined deviation value.
 16. Theparking payment system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the system isfurther adapted to validate and correct the parking zone and the parkingtariff based on the corrected GPS location of the vehicle.
 17. Theparking payment system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the system isadapted to communicate with a user associated with the vehicle fortransmitting thereto an electronic parking payment notification.
 18. Theparking payment system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the parkingnotification is transmitted to the system using a vehicle parkingmanagement device connected to the vehicle.
 19. The parking paymentsystem as claimed in claim 18, wherein the vehicle parking managementdevice is an automated device adapted to operate without humaninteraction.
 20. The parking payment system as claimed in claim 19,wherein the system is adapted to transmit the electronic parking paymentnotification to the vehicle parking management device for communicationto the user using a user interface at said vehicle parking managementdevice.